Inside 3 Top Supply Chain University Programs – How They’re Building Tomorrow’s Leaders (Part 1)

[00:00:00] Mike Ogle: Welcome to the Supply Chain Careers podcast, the only podcast for job seekers, professionals, and students who are focused on career-enhancing conversations and insights across all aspects of the supply chain discipline. This podcast is made possible by SCM Talent Group, the industry-leading supply chain executive search firm.

Visit SCM Talent Group at scmtalent.com

In this special two-part episode of the Supply Chain Careers podcast, learn how supply chain talent is being developed at leading academic institutions by hearing directly from academic leaders at three of the top supply chain programs in the U.S. Joining us today are Dr. Judy Whipple of Michigan State, Dr. Brian Fugate of Arkansas, and Chris Gaffney — a co-host of this podcast who also leads Georgia Tech’s Supply Chain and Logistics Institute. Also co-hosting is Rodney Apple, founder and managing partner of SCM Talent Group, and myself, Mike Ogle, co-host of this podcast and a professor in the supply chain program at Appalachian State University.

In this first of two parts, listen as we discuss the industry changes driving curriculum updates, the variety of programs offered, what employers want, and education programs for lifetime learning. Judy and Brian, welcome back to the Supply Chain Careers podcast. It was great to have you both appear separately in previous episodes, but with all the changes in the industry, it’s great to have you here today to talk about changes on the academic side and how we’re developing the next generation of supply chain talent.

So welcome.

[00:01:48] Judith M. Whipple: Great. Thanks, Mike. It’s great to be back.

[00:01:50] Brian Fugate: Yeah, it’s great to be back. Thanks for having us.

[00:01:53] Mike Ogle: Can you give us a short overview of your programs — a little about what you offer at the undergraduate and graduate levels, your specializations, and your continuing education opportunities to help people advance their supply chain expertise after graduation? Maybe even a bit about clubs and institutes — really, anything you offer on the supply chain side.

[00:02:20] Judith M. Whipple: Sure. At Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business, we offer an undergraduate degree in supply chain, one of the two most popular majors in the college. Finance has been slightly more popular in recent years, but supply chain is consistently among the top two.

We also have a full-time MBA program with a supply chain concentration, and an MS degree specializing specifically in supply chain. The MS program is hybrid — predominantly online — but students come to campus three times for three-day intensive sessions. It’s designed for professionals working full-time who want graduate education while continuing their careers.

We recently launched a fully online Graduate Certificate in Global Supply Chain Management, designed to be completed in two semesters. It’s aimed at those without a supply chain degree or work experience who have moved into supply chain roles or want to position themselves for such roles.

Finally, we have two PhD programs — one in Logistics and one in Operations and Sourcing Management — to prepare the next generation of supply chain faculty and researchers.

Our continuing education options are extensive. Through our Executive Education program, we offer additional online certificates, in-person open enrollment programs, and customized education for companies seeking tailored training.

Our student organizations are very active. Both undergraduate and graduate supply chain associations are among the largest clubs on campus. We have a Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence (WISE) chapter, which originated at the University of Arkansas, as well as consulting, sustainability, leadership, and other related clubs. Students also learn outside the classroom through professional associations like ASCM, CSCMP, and ISM, as well as in case competitions — hosted by companies, other universities, or professional groups.

Our undergraduate SCMA hosts an annual leadership retreat, organizes a corporate trek each year, and runs an annual career fair. There’s no shortage of opportunities for engagement.

[00:05:55] Brian Fugate: For the University of Arkansas, we’re in the Walton College of Business as the JB Hunt Department of Supply Chain Management. We offer an on-campus undergraduate degree as well as a fully online option. At the graduate level, we have multiple formats of our Master’s in Supply Chain Management, including a hybrid program in Northwest Arkansas that meets one Saturday a month with the rest online, a fully online version, and a new hybrid Dallas program launching this fall to serve our large alumni and corporate base there.

Our PhD program is in Supply Chain Management. We also have robust executive education offerings, including tailored corporate programs and foundational online certificates. One example: we’ve built a supply chain fundamentals certificate for over two million Walmart employees, from store associates to senior directors, designed to be future-oriented with technology and AI content.

Like Michigan State, we have active student clubs and a Supply Chain Management Research Center that partners with companies on research, curriculum feedback, and student engagement.

[00:08:37] Chris Gaffney: At Georgia Tech, we don’t have an undergraduate degree in supply chain, but our Industrial Engineering and Business Administration programs both offer supply chain concentrations. Our only dedicated supply chain degree is the Master of Science in Supply Chain Engineering. We also have PhD programs with supply chain focuses, MBAs with supply chain concentrations, and professional master’s programs in areas like manufacturing leadership.

In continuing education, we offer classic supply chain certificates and niche offerings like supply chain analytics and facility optimization. Our Supply Chain and Logistics Institute serves as the main industry engagement hub, with a strong advisory board and research partnerships. We also have research centers focused on net-zero freight systems and the “physical internet” concept.

[00:11:44] Rodney Apple: One thing we’ve learned in supply chain is that change is constant. Since the last time we spoke, there’s been a lot — AI acceleration, global policy and tariff shifts, and rapid automation and robotics adoption. How has this shaped your programs and content?

[00:12:28] Judith M. Whipple: We work hard to keep our curriculum current. Sometimes that’s at the college level — like revising core analytics courses to build progressively from Excel to advanced visualization — and sometimes within our department, such as adding a data analytics course specific to supply chain.

We also bring in guest speakers and industry experts for niche one-credit courses, like customs compliance and security, to give students “boots-on-the-ground” perspectives.

[00:15:15] Brian Fugate: Similar here. At the college level, we’ve revamped our analytics pathway with AI and tech tool integration. Within the supply chain program, we blur the lines between classroom and industry by embedding company projects and data directly into courses — from Walmart retail data in freshman classes to AI tools from Blue Yonder in advanced courses. This keeps us aligned with real-world priorities.

[00:18:17] Chris Gaffney: One shift we’ve seen is students over-indexing on analytics without enough applied context. Employers want both. We’re encouraging internships, even at smaller companies, to build that hands-on experience. We’re also updating curriculum based on applied research projects with industry leaders.

[00:21:06] Mike Ogle: AI is a big topic. How is it impacting teaching and research?

[00:22:29] Judith M. Whipple: AI is like a calculator — it’s a tool, but whether students can use it depends on the learning objective. Faculty need to be clear about expectations and disclosure. In research, journals are beginning to require transparency about AI use, including prompts. Benefits include efficiency in summarizing and drafting, but risks include inaccuracies, bias, and data privacy concerns.

[00:24:38] Brian Fugate: We want our students to be AI-augmented leaders, so we’ve increased output expectations to match AI’s capabilities. We also emphasize ethics and corporate policy awareness.

[00:26:25] Chris Gaffney: Machine learning is the accelerant within AI that’s most in-demand in supply chain jobs. We need to ensure students — and alumni — have access to it, in applied contexts. Policies and governance are essential, and so are critical thinking and soft skills like collaboration, accountability, and communication.

[00:29:26] Brian Fugate: A concern is the widening gap between those skilled with AI and those without access to the best tools. Universities and companies need to help close that.

[00:30:28] Judith M. Whipple: Faculty also need ongoing exposure to industry AI use cases, which requires strong partnerships with companies willing to share data and examples.

[00:32:44] Mike Ogle: Where are recent grads going?

[00:32:53] Brian Fugate: Many enter digital/analytical roles or customer-facing positions. Around 40% of our students are from Texas and often return there. The job market is strong compared to most fields, but it’s no longer the “instant job offer” environment of the immediate post-COVID years.

[00:34:58] Judith M. Whipple: We place students across industries — retail, manufacturing, consumer goods, tech, logistics, and consulting. Consulting demand dipped recently but remains strong. Rotational programs are increasingly popular.

[00:38:13] Chris Gaffney: Consulting is still our top destination, but manufacturing and logistics roles are growing. About a quarter of our grads go on to grad school.

[00:40:20] Rodney Apple: Looking ahead, what skills will employers need?

[00:40:36] Brian Fugate: Beyond digital and analytics capabilities, learning agility is critical — the ability to adapt quickly and see challenges as opportunities. Financial acumen, customer orientation, sustainability, risk management, and end-to-end supply chain thinking are all growing priorities.

[00:42:49] Chris Gaffney: Communication skills — listening, presenting, influencing — remain huge differentiators, along with being results-driven and self-directed.

[00:44:10] Judith M. Whipple: You can have the best analysis, but if you can’t communicate and sell it — including its financial implications — it won’t matter.

[00:45:11] Brian Fugate: It’s rewarding to finally hear companies consistently asking for end-to-end supply chain thinking.

[00:46:45] Rodney Apple: Are you seeing more manufacturing-focused hiring due to tariffs and reshoring?

[00:47:09] Chris Gaffney: Yes, especially in automation, robotics, and EV supply chains in our region.

[00:48:03] Judith M. Whipple: Community colleges will play a big role in upskilling. We also need to address outdated perceptions of manufacturing.

[00:49:13] Mike Ogle: Plant and store experience is invaluable for decision-making later in your career.

[00:50:22] Rodney Apple: And it makes you more marketable for leadership roles.

[00:50:50] Chris Gaffney: Let’s close with your thoughts on continuing education trends.

[00:52:08] Brian Fugate: We’re building corporate certificate programs that can stack into degree credit, creating pathways for lifelong learning.

[00:53:34] Judith M. Whipple: Customized in-person leadership programs are growing — especially those that bring together high-potential leaders from across a company and its global locations.

[00:55:48] Mike Ogle: The challenge is balancing these corporate-specific initiatives with department capacity.

[00:57:19] Judith M. Whipple: Companies that cut training during downturns risk falling behind competitors who continue investing in talent.

[00:57:29] Mike Ogle: That’s a great note to end on. Thanks for joining us for part one — stay tuned for part two.